4 Entertaining and Educational Games to Play in Art Class
My students know I love to have a good time in art class! But, my goodness, it can be a struggle at times. As specials teachers, students can come to us a little out of sorts and disengaged. I have found that creating games for art class is an easy way to reinforce art skills, while also getting students invested in their learning.
Before we dive into some games for art class that I’m personally a fan of, I want to make a note about the management of bringing games into your art room. Make sure you’ve established good routines and expectations before pulling out these games. It will ensure your class time goes smoothly - and leave you without a ghastly headache!
Ready, set, roll! The dice game challenges students to combine chance and creativity to build a Rousseau-inspired masterpiece.
#1 Texture in a Bag
This game for art class is simple to put together and fun to play. In an opaque bag, place various items with different textures (like a stick, penny, eraser, etc.). Then, have students feel around in the bag and try to find two items with matching textures.
If they pull out the two items and the textures do match, they keep the items till the end of the game. If the textures don’t match, they put the items back in the bag. The student with the most items at the end wins! Ultimately, the teacher has the say over whether the textures match, but I like to give my students the opportunity to justify their reasoning.
This game is so good for getting students to work on describing and identifying different textures. These descriptive terms they practice can be utilized across other art activities, and even help students with their writing.
#2 Partner Drawing
If you want a game for your art class that will leave students giggling and having a good time - this is the one! You’ll build on collaboration and creative thinking with this game.
Put students into pairs and give each pair one sheet of paper. Have the first student place a mark on the paper. The mark should be no bigger than a quarter. Then, they will pass the paper to their partner, who then adds a mark. This continues back and forth until they have a complete picture!
You can make this art game completely open-ended or give students a prompt, like drawing something in nature.
Each roll adds a new element to the drawing—what will the next move reveal in this playful approach to art creation?
#3 Dice Game
This game for art class is excellent for introducing students to new artists, styles, and techniques. Students roll a die and build their drawing based off of the dice sheet prompt. For those shy artists (or students who love drawing the same image over and over!), this can be a fun challenge for them.
You can try out the dice game with the Henri Rousseau Animal Dice Game. In the Rousseau Dice game, students will roll the dice to draw tigers, monkeys, butterflies (oh my!), and several more. Plus, some additional shapes and jungle features. Pair it with a lesson on Henri Rousseau, and you have a complete art lesson on your hands!
The dice game can be shaken up as well. Have students work with partners, draw on marker boards or with chalkboards, create digital art in Procreate, use an Etch-a-Sketch, and more. There are many opportunities for a good time with these games for art.
#4 Color Scavenger Hunt
This game is an excellent art class game for getting students familiar with color theory and improving their observation skills. You can play this in the classroom or, if possible, take it outside. Here’s how it works:
Set up: Give each student or pair of students a sheet of paper with a list of colors. The list can include primary colors, secondary colors, tints, shades, or even more complex color terms like "complementary colors" or "analogous colors."
Instructions: Students must go around the classroom (or designated area) and find objects that match the colors on their list. For each color they find, they’ll either draw or write down the object they found that corresponds to the color.
Variation: You can up the challenge by asking them to name an emotion associated with each color or relate it to an artist’s work. For example, finding a yellow object and connecting it to Vincent van Gogh’s use of yellow in "Sunflowers."
This game reinforces the understanding of colors, engages their critical thinking, and can be connected to both art vocabulary and the real world!
From the roll of the dice to a finished masterpiece! Students bring Rousseau’s jungle scenes to life one roll at a time.
Final Thoughts
It always brings a smile to my face to reflect on the magic that unfolds when I use classroom art games:
The tactile excitement of Texture in a Bag
The collaborative laughter inspired by Partner Drawing
The imaginative exploration of the Dice Games
Classroom art games weave together a unique thread of engagement and skill development. It’s win-win!
It's not just about infusing fun into the curriculum; it's about fostering a dynamic learning environment where creativity not only thrives but becomes the heartbeat of the classroom.
So, as you embark on your own artistic endeavors, ponder the countless possibilities that these classroom art games unveil. With every game played, we not only reinforce artistic skills but also cultivate an atmosphere where learning is a delightful expedition.
Here's to classrooms adorned with laughter and discovery, and the vivid legacy of classroom art games – a testament to the artful spirit that defines our educational approach.
For more tips on increasing art engagement, read the blog on Novel Ways to Increase Engagemnent in Art Class.
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I’m Amanda, and I align standards and integrate content to help teachers meet the needs of the Whole Child in art class! I have yet to find a standard that I couldn’t teach through art, and I want to share it all with you.
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I want all students to feel successful in the art room, so I created a standards-based Daffodil Collage lesson to do just that! The lesson includes an artist study, student reflection, and more, so push your artists to their full potential.
Follow along on my Instagram page for more tips on teaching the Whole Child in the art room!
Connecting art and content together doesn’t have to be mind-boggling. I’ve made it simple with 25 math and ELA art lesson starters - for free! Plus, I included 15 worksheets for students to reflect on their art-making journey.